EBACE: Lonergan, Gaona Receive Euro Bizav Awards

Former Biggin Hill Airport director Peter Lonergan and Comlux Aviation Group president Richard Gaona are the recipients of the 2011 European Business Aviation Awards, which are given jointly by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and U.S. National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). The awards were presented here at EBACE on Tuesday during the opening session.

Lonergan was lauded for turning around Biggin Hill airport, which was once scheduled for closure but is now thriving. Under his stewardship, a new runway with an apron was added, new hangars have continually been constructed, and the staff swelled from 36 when he arrived to more than 100 today. He now plans to represent EBAA and its members as the business aviation representative at the European Aviation Safety Agency’s rulemaking group on requirements for aerodrome operations.

Gaona has also had a distinguished career and record of service to business aviation. His more than 25 years with Airbus included his work on the launch of the Airbus Corporate Jetliner. During his eight years leading that program, more than 120 of the aircraft were sold. As president of Comlux Aviation, he has expanded the company’s service offerings, opened new facilities across the globe and more than tripled the number of aircraft the company operates.